LIVING IN BARCELONA

Apr 20, 2020 |

Every year, countless international rankings appear on the quality of life in cities around the world, and, beyond the particularities of each, they all agree that Barcelona is one of the top cities worldwide in terms of quality of life. A leading ranking, such as the one published by Traveler , recently placed Barcelona at 43rd place worldwide and number 1 in Spain for living. Below, we break down all the reasons why Barcelona deservedly occupies top positions in the main international rankings.

Climate:

Barcelona enjoys a moderate climate year-round, with temperatures ranging from 9°C in winter to 30°C in summer. There is little rainfall, concentrated in the autumn months, and plenty of sunshine throughout the year. For sea lovers, there's good news: temperatures range year-round from 13°C (February) to 25°C (August), as detailed in the Weather Atlas .

Gastronomy:

Barcelona boasts a diverse gastronomic offering worthy of the world's finest cities. Here you can find everything from traditional tapas to enjoy with friends to the finest cuisine led by Michelin-starred restaurants , as well as international cuisine thanks to its cosmopolitan character. Barcelona brings together the best of Catalan cuisine, from its signature pà amb tomàquet (bread with tomatoes), cargols a la llauna (fried pork loin), vedella amb bolets (fried mushrooms), and calçots (spinach). All of this is accompanied by the finest wines from the Catalan designations of origin, from Priorat to Empordà.

Sea:

A city open to the sea since the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games , its main driving force was Mayor Pasqual Maragal l . Since then, it has recovered sandy beaches, marinas and seafront promenades. A new neighbourhood, Vila Olímpica , was created, the Poble Nou neighbourhood was opened to the sea and, years later, this was completed with the opening of the Forum and Diagonal Mar areas. Today, Barcelona residents can enjoy its beaches and water sports practically all year round.

Location:

The city is ideally located by the sea, surrounded by hills and close to the beaches of the Costa Brava and the ski resorts of the Pyrenees ( Baqueira Beret ) and An Dorra . This location is also ideal for accessing other places to visit, such as Sitges on the Garraf coast, the Penedès region , known for its wines, and Montserrat and the Ebro Delta .

Communications :

Barcelona is one of the main transport hubs in southern Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, and the Mediterranean. From here, there are good highways to Europe and the rest of the country. The city has a modern airport with continental and transoceanic flights, a port well connected to the Balearic Islands and major Mediterranean port cities, and a commuter and high-speed (AVE) train network that guarantees excellent connections. Regarding transport within the city, daily commutes are very easy via TMB public transport (bus, metro, tram, trains), as well as Bicing (a municipal bicycle rental service) and other car and motorcycle sharing options .

Culture:

The city is characterized by its ancient history, and culture has not been alien to it.

The birthplace of modernism, it boasts historic monuments such as the Sa Grada Familia , Park Güell and La Pedrera , all of which are notable works by Gaudí, as well as Roman and Gothic works (such as Santa Maria del Mar). All of this is complemented by important museums such as the Picasso Museum , the Miró Foundation , the Tàpies Foundation and the MNAC ( National Museum of Art of Catalonia) .

Job:

A city as cosmopolitan as Barcelona is, in large part, due to the attraction its business community has generated throughout history. In recent decades, beyond manufacturing (led by the car manufacturer Seat ) and the commitment to services (with tourism), new job opportunities have been linked to the new 22 @ neighborhood and the entire knowledge industry (start-ups and new digital businesses).

Sport:

Barcelona, known worldwide, is also known for its main football team, FC Barcelona , and hosts sporting events such as athletics championships, the Roller Games, and other varied disciplines, such as Formula 1 and Moto GP in Montmeló, just 20 minutes from Barcelona. Its beautiful streets, avenues, and parks are ideal for running and also for enjoying sports in any of the gyms available. The two main hills surrounding Barcelona, Montjuïc and Collserola, also known as the Magic Mountain, are some of the best viewpoints for contemplating the city.

( Tibidabo Park is the highest peak in the Collserola Mountains.) At 512 meters high, it's an ideal place for sports and outdoor recreation.

Education / Training:

Barcelona has an educational system that covers everything from infancy to adulthood. All neighborhoods have public and private schools. The city has universities and business schools of all kinds, such as the internationally renowned IESE and ESADE , as well as public universities such as the UB (University of Barcelona) and the UPC (Polytechnic University of Barcelona) .

Medicine:

The Catalan capital has a primary healthcare network in all of the city's districts. There are also first-class hospitals such as the Valld'Hebron Hospital and the Hospital Clínic (world-class). There are also clinics specializing in cosmetic surgery ( Clinica Planas ), ophthalmology ( Clinica Barraquer ), and women's care ( Clinica Dexeus ).